Myth: Government isn’t hiring at all.
Fact: There are many exemptions from the freeze, including national security and public safety positions deemed essential. Agencies also may request additional exemptions to meet their mission-critical needs. Some agencies – like VA, HHS and DOD – have publicly announced lists of exemptions. Students should look at agency websites and social media, check with federal HR points of contact and read job opportunity announcements carefully for more information.
Myth: I shouldn’t submit any applications during the freeze.
Fact: It’s in the best interest of students to continue applying throughout the hiring freeze! Some agencies are still hiring for exempted positions, while others are continuing certain recruiting and hiring actions. Even for vacancies or positions that are subject to the hiring freeze, agencies are still permitted to engage in recruitment activities, post job opportunity announcements, assess applications and conduct interviews. Students should make sure their applications are being considered since agencies are still hard at work trying to find the right candidates.
Myth: There are no student opportunities available right now.
Fact: Pathways Internship and Presidential Management Fellows Programs are exempted from the hiring freeze, meaning that agencies can continue hiring for those positions as usual. Additionally, unpaid student volunteer internships are exempt from the hiring freeze. Interns secured via a third party internship provider like the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) also are exempted.
There are many job and internship openings for agencies that are hiring right now. Check out these current job announcements that you can apply tofederal emblem-1dzxatl today:
- Student Trainee (Biological Science Technician)
- Agency: National Park Service
- Location: Thousand Oaks, Ca.
- Deadline: March 13, 2017
- Office of Policy and International Affairs Externship
- Agency: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
- Location: Alexandria, Va.
- Deadline: March 14, 2017
- Pathways Accounting Internship
- Agency: Defense Finance and Accounting Service
- Location: Limestone, Me.
- Deadline: March 20, 2017
- Student Volunteer Internship
- Agency: Office of Personnel Management
- Location: Washington, D.C.
- Deadline: March 23, 2017